Hibiscus plant named ‘Aruba Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Aruba Wind’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; large golden yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ARUBA WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant,botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Aruba Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense,uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production,early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch,desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in September, 2007 of a proprietary selection ofHibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2350, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘YOHIB 2362’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,623, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla.in October, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. sinceFebruary, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Aruba Wind’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Aruba Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscusplant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and        dense plant habit appropriate for container production.    -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.    -   4. Large golden yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored        centers.    -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of thefemale parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of thefemale parent selection have light pink-colored flowers with red-coloredcenters.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘YOHIB 2362’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘YOHIB2362’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more vigorous than plants of        ‘YOHIB 2362’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more outwardly spreading than        plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus flower earlier than plants of        ‘YOHIB 2362’.    -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’.    -   5. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘YOHIB 2362’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘YOHIB 2362’ have bright yellow-colored        flowers with dark red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Bonaire Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 13/373,926. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva,Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Bonaire Wind’primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Bonaire Wind’ have clearyellow-colored flowers with white-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Aruba Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Aruba Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and under environmentalconditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercialHibiscus production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 20° C. to 38° C., night temperatures rangedfrom 15° C. to 24° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 4,000foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were 23 weeks old whenthe photographs and the description were taken. In the description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Aruba Wind’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2350, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘YOHIB 2362’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,623.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°            C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of            24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,            somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniformly mounded and            dense; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral            branches potentially develop at every node; pinching            enhances lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 36 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 34 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 25 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.        -   Color, immature.—More green than 146A.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 197A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 9.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.25 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate with cordate tendencies.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse to cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: More green than 137B.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than            147A; venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 144A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped            flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely            flowering habit with about three flowers per terminal;            flowers face mostly upright.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower            naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of            warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 12.4 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants            of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist flower bud            drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C.            Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid.            Color: Close to 137B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 7.9 cm.            Width: About 6.8 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; veins prominent on the            lower surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to            17B; towards the base, close to 53A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 17D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            17B; towards the base, darker than 53A; color does not fade            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Closest to            17D; color does not fade with development.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.75 cm. Width: About 9 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Texture,            lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137B.        -   Bracts.—Appearance: About seven to eight fused at base.            Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.25 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: More green than 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 50 per flower. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament            color: Close to 15A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:            About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 9A. Gynoecium: Pistil number:            One per flower. Pistil length: About 7.25 cm. Style length:            About 6.5 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Style            color: Close to 15A to 15B; towards the base, close to 53A.            Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close            to 53A. Ovary color: Close to 11D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 38° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under    Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible    to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and    Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to    be resistant to pests and other pathogens.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Aruba Wind’as illustrated and described.